2- His True Mate

The council hall had never been this suffocating, never so quiet. 

No one laughed.

No one argued.

Even the elders, who normally debated every decision until sunset, sat in silence.  The warning letter rested on the long wooden table.

"Wherever you are... Come to me. My mate."

No one dared touch it.

In fact, what could anyone have said?

Father stood at the head of the table, “As of today,” he began the announcement heavily, “every patrol will be doubled.”

Robbie nodded, “We'll strengthen the borders.”

“We should evacuate the children,” one elder suggested.

“And send the women into hiding,” another added.

Father shook his head, the look of defeat on his face hurt me.

“If Alpha Zarius truly wants someone...there is nowhere he cannot reach.”

The room fell silent again. Everyone knew the outcome already. They couldn’t hide or fight.

Someone cursed under their breath. Another elder whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess.

I stared into nothingness.

Unable to speak.

Unable to think.

Unable to breathe.

“Eve?”

Robbie's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I looked up with a hollow look. 

His warm brown eyes searched mine with quiet concern and I had no relief, not even fake optimism.

“You haven't said a word.” He pointed in a low tone.

“I'm just tired.” 

“Tired?”

I forced a smile, “I couldn't sleep.”

He didn't believe me.

I could tell.

But, before he had the chance to ask another question, Father dismissed the meeting.

“Return to your duties. Do not engage in a fight. Retreat if you see the Sapphire Blood pack.” 

The hall slowly emptied.

One by one.

Until only Robbie and I remained.

I lowered my head more. He closed the heavy doors behind the last elder before turning toward me.

“Alright, Evelise," His playful smile was gone.

“Tell me what's wrong.”

“...Nothing.”

He stopped before me, voice strict, “Evelise.”

“I'm fine.” I tried to hide my face in my palm.

“You've been lying since yesterday.”

Silence stretched between us. My mind was in a state of turmoil. After observing my expression, he sighed.

“You know you can tell me anything.”

“Anything…?” I hesitated, lifting my eyes slowly. 

“Anything.” 

The word shattered whatever strength I had left. My hands began to tremble accompanied by a screen of tears.

“...Robbie.”

He held my shoulders, shifted to his knees, eyes scanning me worriedly.

“What is it, Eve? Tell me.”

I swallowed hard, “I…”

The words refused to leave my mouth. My mouth opened. Closed. Opened. Closed. He gently took my hands into his.

“Look at me.”

I did. 

The kindness in his eyes only made everything worse.

“I know…” I whispered weakly.

His brows knitted together.

“You know what?”

My grip tightened on his hand, my voice cracking, “I know who Alpha Zarius is searching for.”

He grinned, his eyes lit up, filled with hope.

“Then we should warn her, Evelise. We should inform Zarius and fix this–” 

“It's me.”

Everything stopped.

His smile slowly disappeared. Tears blurred my vision, my lips quivered, losing my composure. 

He stared at me in disbelief, searching for a lie, for a hint that would tell otherwise but to no avail.

“I…” 

A sob escaped my throat, lowering my head and placing it on his shoulder. Finally letting out the weight I was carrying all this time.

“I'm his mate.”

Robbie's grip loosened.

“No…. no, no, no, no…”

I cried, gripping his shirt, “He isn't searching for just anyone.”

Tears refused to halt, losing my breaths, my composure. 

“He's searching for me.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Painful.

Robbie slowly swallowed hard, “Since when… do you know?” 

“For months.” I sniffled, pulling back slightly. 

“At the annual Alpha gathering… his pack passed by…”

His eyes widened.

“For six months?” 

“I tried convincing myself I was wrong.”

I laughed bitterly. “I prayed I was imagining it.”

“You never told anyone?”

“How could I?” I looked up at him with tears glistening in my eyes.

“My mate is the most feared Alpha alive.”

My voice broke, unable to carry the crushing weight of this secret anymore.

“The man who murders women after marking them. I didn't want to believe fate could be so cruel.” 

I buried my face against his chest and cried my anguish out.

“Help me, Robbie, I don't want to go with him.”

He wrapped both arms around me.

“I'm so scared. He'll destroy me. M-Moon Goddess won't do this to me, right?” 

Robbie held me compassionately, running his finger through my locks.

I pulled away just enough to look into his eyes.

“Promise me.”

His expression softened.

“No matter what happens…” I grabbed the front of his tunic, “...don't let him take me.”

Slowly, he placed his hand over mine, kissing my knuckles.

“I promise.”

Two simple words. 

Yet they carried the weight of his life.

I nodded weakly.

Trying to believe them.

Trying to believe anyone could stop the monster marching across Moon Whispers.

But the main question was– Can he?

That night, I could finally sleep after six months. The weight of my heart had lessened and exhaustion forced my eyes shut.

I know I couldn’t save myself. 

So I prayed.

Not for victory. Not for revenge.

Only for another sunrise. Another ordinary day.

Just one more.

Maybe I prayed for too much.

A scream shattered the dawn, my eyes flew open. My heart leaped into my throat, immobilising my whole being.

Another scream followed. Then another.

"The borders are breached!”

“They're here! Run!”

“Wake everyone!”

I stumbled out of bed. 

They couldn’t be here in just one day. 

Outside, chaos had swallowed the village, our members rushed toward the entrance.

Children cried, women gathered their families and locked the houses.

The ground trembled beneath countless footsteps. I forced myself through the frightened crowd.

Then… I saw him.

Standing beyond the broken gates. Towering above every wolf surrounding him.

Black regal clothing. Dark hair stirred by the morning wind.

Piercing golden eyes. Beautiful yet terrifying. His gaze swept across the crowd. 

Searching.

Searching...

Until it stopped on me.

My very soul froze, knees buckled as I forgot how to breathe. Everything disappeared at that moment.

The screams. The wolves. The world itself.

Only those eyes remained. 

His lips slowly curved into a wicked smile, taking a step forward.

“There you are.”

Every prayer I had whispered, every hope I had clung to, every promise Robbie had made.

They all shattered.

“I've been looking for you.”